[miatadan]

For those using McIntosh power amplifiers with Magnepan speakers... Which output tap are you using?
My last pair of speakers Martin Logan Spires , the 8 ohm tap sounded best.
With the Acoustat Spectra 22's , I was using 4 ohm tap.
The amplifier model is MC302. The preamp is the McIntosh C2300 ( vacuum tube )

Room size is 11 ft wide and 20 ft length. Thinking  Magnepan 3.7i will work in this room as I had no issues with Acoustat Spectra 22s and Martin Logan Spires.

Appreciate any advise.

Thanks Dan

[SteveFord]

No McIntosh owners here?

[avta]

some years ago I had 1.6's with a McIntosh stereo amp and it seems to me I favored the 8 ohm connections. No reason not to test all the connections and see what you like the best.

[zuluwarrior0760]

I've heard Magnepan 3.7s twice with McIntosh amplifiers (once 250wpc and the other time 300wpc)

I tried both 4 and 8 ohm taps and I heard very little difference, which in itself tells me McIntosh
amps are not a good match for Maggies......they just don't make them come to life.......

The whole autoformer thing puts what should be a powerhouse in tube amp territory........

I have owned 3.7s for over 3 years now and have heard them on no less than 15 amps that I have
owned or friends have brought over for late night listening parties and I have found
that there are many amplifiers that sound very good with Magnepan 3.7s, but only a couple
proved to be a great pairing:

Bryston 7bsst2s and Bryston 28bsst2's

I will say that last week I had the chance to try Zesto's brand new Eros amps @ 150wpc
and they sounded great with the maggies, but they didn't have the headroom I had
grown accustomed to with my Bryston 7's.......because the Bryston's had 6 times the juice
into 4 ohms versus the Zestos......and the 28s I am getting ready to go with will have
double that .......

[Austin08]

Last year, I had a chance to audition a pair of 3.7i driving by MAC 6900. I tried both taps and the different was not that much of different. Imo, the 8ohm tap sound more evenly top to bottom while the 4ohm tap has a bit more punch in lower region. Both taps sound very nice but a touch too warm for my taste. My 3.7i and ARC DS450 has a more natural tone which I am much prefer.

[Hasse]

I've heard Magnepan 3.7s twice with McIntosh amplifiers (once 250wpc and the other time 300wpc)

I tried both 4 and 8 ohm taps and I heard very little difference, which in itself tells me McIntosh
amps are not a good match for Maggies......they just don't make them come to life.......

The whole autoformer thing puts what should be a powerhouse in tube amp territory........

I have owned 3.7s for over 3 years now and have heard them on no less than 15 amps that I have
owned or friends have brought over for late night listening parties and I have found
that there are many amplifiers that sound very good with Magnepan 3.7s, but only a couple
proved to be a great pairing:

Bryston 7bsst2s and Bryston 28bsst2's

I will say that last week I had the chance to try Zesto's brand new Eros amps @ 150wpc
and they sounded great with the maggies, but they didn't have the headroom I had
grown accustomed to with my Bryston 7's.......because the Bryston's had 6 times the juice
into 4 ohms versus the Zestos......and the 28s I am getting ready to go with will have
double that .......

Besides Bryston, both ARC and Pass Labs are known for being great matches with Maggies. Have you by chance heard any of those on your 3.7´s? Forgot to ask, did you notice a big difference between the 7BSSt2´s and the 28´s?

[zuluwarrior0760]

I owned a Pass Labs X350.5, used it largely with Revel Studio 2's before
I changed to Magnepan 3.7s.

I used the Pass for a short time with the Maggies and ended up
going with the more powerful Bryston 7's

Major difference was hearing things in my recordings that were previously
not there......I also found the Bryston's to be more musical overall......

I've also heard Pass Labs XA100.5's on the 3.7s with similar results but
less punch overall.  Outstanding bass though......but in terms of overall
musicality, the Bryston 7s beat the class A Pass's IMO

I have heard ARC amps on 3.7s twice, once the REF 250s and once the VT200's
and I would rate the ARC's significantly underpowered......but a lot of it
comes down to room size and listening habits.......I don't listen very loud,
but I do find a muscular Bryston partnered with a tube pre gives me headroom
with musicality.......that I've not heard with SS on SS or Tube on Tube.....

I've only heard 28s on 3.7s at a show, but am excited to try them......I think
they'll sound cut from the same cloth, but just more headroom and a hint
more sweetness on top.....

As a matter of best practice, I would say if someone is looking for a no compromise
amp for Mag 3.7s, look to a used pair of 7bsst2's with plenty of warranty left....
you can typically find them in the 4500 to 5500 range.....and they will really
obliterate any mid power tube amp out there with the power hungry Maggies......
even new you sould be able to get them in the 8k range.....

If I just had to have tubes with the Magnepan's, I know I would have to go
to the megawatt offerings from the likes of ARC (600w or 750w) to satisfy
the headroom and musicality the Bryston's give me.........

I'll let you know how the 28s behave.......

[miatadan]

With the Martin Logan Spire's 8 ohms worked the best, will try this when I get the Magnepan's.